Yamal Shines as Barcelona Thrives, Bayern Roars, and Lazio Stuns in Euro Roundup
Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, and Harry Kane were all on the scoresheet once again, but the buzz in Europe is all about Lazio. Adam Bate dives into the biggest stories from the continent in the latest Euro Debrief, focusing on the major leagues and standout performances.
In a glowing tribute to Yamal, Hansi Flick remarked, "When you see the first goal he scored, unbelievable. This is, for me, at the moment, the best player in the world." That jaw-dropping opener paved the way for Barcelona's 5-2 triumph over Real Betis, marking their incredible ninth straight win in LaLiga.
Flick's praise is hard to argue against. The young star's ability to control the ball at speed is unmatched. Betis fought valiantly, with Giovani Lo Celso having a spectacular goal disallowed, but Barcelona's offensive prowess was simply too much.
Barcelona has netted an astonishing 39 goals in just nine matches—the best start to a LaLiga season in 86 years and the longest winning streak to kick off a campaign in nearly six decades. They’re on fire, and next up is a clash with Real Madrid.
Having witnessed last year’s first Clasico, where Yamal failed to deliver on his pre-match jibes about their rivals, this time feels different. With momentum on his side and the Ballon d'Or ceremony looming, Yamal has a golden opportunity to shine.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid showcased their own attacking flair with a 4-1 victory over Sevilla. Arda Guler got them off to a flying start, followed by Mbappe, who danced through the defense to score twice as he gears up for El Clasico.
All eyes are glued to that monumental face-off, but Atletico Madrid is lurking in second place, thanks to Alex Baena’s late winner against Espanyol.
In Germany, Harry Kane is not ready to concede the Ballon d'Or without a fight. He delivered a stunning performance for Bayern Munich, scoring one and assisting two in a 6-1 demolition of RB Leipzig on his 100th Bundesliga appearance.
Bayern's resurgence comes after two away draws, and they retake the top spot in the Bundesliga. Borussia Dortmund remains unbeaten but could only manage a disappointing draw against Union Berlin, trailing behind Bayern.
Dortmund faces Eintracht Frankfurt next week, hoping to regain their form after a shock draw with Paderborn, where Niclas Fullkrug once again played the hero.
Freiburg, who started the weekend at the top, fell to Bayer Leverkusen despite an early lead. Patrik Schick continued his scoring streak, netting the winner and maintaining his perfect record this season.
Borussia Monchengladbach's struggles continue as they remain winless after another defeat, this time to Hoffenheim. With a new coach but the same problems, their season is starting to feel like a crisis.
In a contrasting narrative, Eintracht Frankfurt has parted ways with their sporting director, but the feel-good story of the weekend was Elversberg, who stunned Augsburg with a thrilling 4-3 victory.
In Italy, Inter Milan is still at the top of Serie A after coming from behind to beat Bologna, but the real headline-grabber is Lazio. Their emphatic 3-0 win over Juventus in Turin highlighted their remarkable turnaround under Gennaro Gattuso.
This victory not only solidified Lazio's best start in Serie A history but also showcased their newfound unity and talent. Oliver Provstgaard scored the opener with a glancing header, while Gustav Isaksen and Mattia Zaccagni also made significant contributions.
Lazio's success is remarkable, especially considering the team's struggles prior to the season. With so many players stepping up, they are turning heads and challenging the status quo in Italian football.
